Marrero outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse

Former first-round pick Chris Marrero, once viewed as the Nationals' first baseman of the future, was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse today. This removes Marrero from the Nationals' 40-man roster and means that he'll become a minor league free agent after the World Series is over. The 25-year-old Marrero's time with the Nats is almost certainly now over. Marrero was taken by the Nats with the 15th overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Florida. The first baseman was given a $1.625 million signing bonus and showed potential in his first full season in the minors, hitting .275/.338/.484 with 23 homers and 88 RBIs between low Single-A Hagerstown and high Single-A Potomac. But the power numbers dropped for Marrero in the following seasons, and he never hit more than 18 homers after that 2007 campaign. He made his big league debut with the Nats in 2011, hitting .248/.274/.294 with 10 RBIs in 109 at-bats. After that season, however, Marrero tore his hamstring playing winter ball, an injury that really set him back. He played in just 53 games in 2012 and hit just three home runs in 180 at-bats. This year, Marrero hit .270/.331/.402 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs in 408 at-bats at Syracuse. During a brief stint with the Nationals, he went 2-for-16 with one RBI. This move leaves the Nationals with 39 players officially on the 40-man roster, with left-hander Ross Detwiler and right-handed reliever Christian Garcia both on the 60-day disabled list.